Turkish Daily News
March 10 2005

Turkey ready to face past
Thursday, March 10, 2005

The CHP’s Elekdag is confident that Ankara is now well placed to tell
the West to encourage scholarly investigation into genocide
allegations instead of just listening to the Armenians and passing
resolutions recognizing what they say as fact

FATMA DEMÝRELLÝ

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

In a rare show of solidarity, the Turkish ruling and opposition
parties have joined forces to call for an impartial investigation by
historians into allegations that Armenians were subject to genocide
at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire, a bold response to a
decades-old Armenian campaign and mounting international pressure to
force Turkey to recognize the alleged genocide.

The two-party agreement, which came after a Tuesday meeting between
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, requires a three-step
strategy of initiating a joint investigation of Turkish and Armenian
historians; opening of national archives to scholars, not only in
Turkey and Armenia but also in other countries concerned; and the
establishment by an international organization, such as UNESCO, of a
notary mechanism to make sure the investigation will be conducted in
a strictly scientific manner.

The initiative is hailed as unique because it represents a break
with the traditional Turkish reaction of denying allegations and
condemning parliamentary acknowledgements of them, which has prompted
calls in Europe for Turkey to dare to face its past.

“This is motivated by a desire to be proactive; a desire to stop
being defensive and start an offensive,” said Þükrü Elekdag, a deputy
in the CHP, during an interview with the Turkish Daily News. A former
diplomat who worked extensively on the Armenian issue, Elekdag is the
architect of the strategy that was adopted on Tuesday by both the
ruling and opposition parties.

Parliaments in a number of European countries have passed
resolutions recognizing the allegations that 1.5 million Armenians
were killed in a genocide campaign from 1915-1918, the twilight years
of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies the allegations and says
Armenians were killed in a partisan war that also claimed many Muslim
Turkish lives. Turkey also accuses Armenians of carrying out
massacres while siding with invading Russian troops. No serious
scientific investigation has been carried out so far to shed light on
this disputed in history.

Turkey has threatened severing ties with countries whose
parliaments acknowledged the allegations. Observers warn a much
bigger wave of pressure to recognize the alleged genocide may descend
upon Turkey in the months to come as Armenians across the world are
preparing for large-scale commemoration activities to mark the 90th
anniversary of the alleged genocide.

Elekdag said Turkey has a solid case to make now before the
Westerners are likely to push Turkey to recognize the Armenian
allegations as facts.

The issue is becoming more important in connection with Turkey’s
bid to join the European Union. Some conservative politicians in EU
countries have already argued that Turkey’s recognition of the
alleged genocide must be a condition for further progress in its bid
to join the EU.

The call for a scientific study is likely to get a better reception
in Europe than strong official condemnation of parliamentary acts by
Turkey. One Western diplomat described the investigation proposal and
the call for supervision by an international actor as “quite useful.”

“Parliaments in European countries have passed resolutions, and
what we did was to appeal to European lawmakers not to do so. But now
it is in a position to say something more meaningful. Turkey can now
tell them to encourage the proposed scholarly investigation instead
of passing resolutions on the basis of one-sided allegations,”
Elekdag said.

Getting ‘Blue Book’ right:

The Turkish initiative also includes attempts to invalidate charges
made in a World War I-era book written by British diplomat James
Bryce and historian Arnold Toynbee called “The Treatment of Armenians
in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-1916,” or the “Blue Book,” as it is more
commonly known.

Turkish parliamentarians are now planning to send a letter to the
British House of Lords and House of Commons, asking the British
Parliament to declare the book a “propaganda tool” and thus deny its
arguments that Ottoman Turks had perpetrated a grave crime against
humanity on Armenians in the era concerned.

Elekdag called the book a “masterpiece of British wartime
propaganda” designed to win over the wavering pro-Entente neutrals,
in particular the United States. A letter drafted by Elekdag calling
on British lawmakers to declare the book propaganda material includes
footnotes referring to the British archives.

The “Blue Book” is one of the basic and most frequently cited
documents presented as a basis for Armenian genocide allegations.
Elekdag said even the British investigators who were trying to find
evidence for the alleged genocide to charge some 144 Turkish
officials detained by the then occupying British forces in connection
with the allegations did not use the book’s arguments as a basis.

–Boundary_(ID_IR6o91HA4ts9H75dUm74Gg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMRUSGASPROM TO START CONSTRUCTION OF MEGHRI-KAJARAN SECTION OF
IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE IN MID APRIL

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. ArmRusgasprom will start the
construction of Meghri-Kajaran section of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeleine in mid April. The director general of the company Karen
Karapetian stated at the March 11 press conference that at present,
negotiations are being conducted with the Iranian side, after which
the exact amounts of the investments to be made will be determined.
According to K. Karapetian, recently ArnRusgasprom signed an
agreement on receiving credit. whose amount he did not mention,
with the Export-Import Bank (Iran).

Azeri leader says truce violations Armenian “sabotage”

ANS TV, Baku
12 Mar 05

[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev has described as sabotage frequent
Armenian attacks on Azerbaijani positions. The commander-in-chief
said that the Azerbaijani side is ready to repel them.

[Aliyev speaking to journalists] I condemn the cease-fire violations.
Of course, you cannot hear any other reaction [from me]. The breach
of the cease-fire will not have a positive impact on the negotiating
process. We do not need this. As you know, Azerbaijan’s position
is now strong. In comparison [with the past], you will see that we
have achieved a lot in the process of settling the conflict: both
diplomatic, political and other. This is why we do not want this.

This is sabotage by the Armenians. They are probably trying to
pursue certain purposes in this way. We are ready. If they break [the
cease-fire], we will do the same. If they attack, we will answer in
such a way that they will regret having done so.

PanArmenian News
March 12 2005

OSCE MG US AMBASSADOR CONTENT WITH KARABAKH TALKS

12.03.2005 03:57

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group Ambassador representing the
US Steven Mann advises that after making public the report of the
fact finding mission, which worked on the “occupied territories of
Azerbaijan,” to familiarize with it in full, Azertag news agency
reported. “People should understand that the report drawn by the
OSCE mission aims at promoting the negotiations. The Minsk Group
Ambassadors, as well as the US Government also want it,” he noted.
Not commenting on the report, which will be made public at the sitting
of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna next Thursday, Steven Mann
stated that he would not like to make any conclusions before that
time. However, he noted that he believes that “the document drawn by us
is exact and detailed, professionally reveals the matter. A group of
specialists led by Emily Haber has done a top quality work.” Ambassador
Mann, who participated in discussions on the topic of the Caspian
Gas and Energy Security of Europe in Washington March 10, said he was
content with the course of the talks over settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Steven Mann, who is also State Department Advisor
for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy, says that the Karabakh issue takes
most of his time. “I am glad to be busy all the time. This means that
the negotiation cycle between the parties continues,” he added.

PanArmenian News
March 12 2005

ALIYEV: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO
KARABAKH CONFLICT

12.03.2005 03:25

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation
of UNECE/UNESCAP, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe/
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific. Touching upon
regional processes I. Aliyev accentuated that the economic process,
as well as the social and political stability in the country has
a favorable impact on the development of the region as a whole.
He regretted that «the occupation of 20% of Azeri territories
by Armenia» poses serious obstacles for regional development. The
continuation of the conflict is hampers regional security on the whole,
promotion of economic processes much, Aliyev said, noting the need
for increased attention to the conflict by international organizations.

–Boundary_(ID_54/EOa+9eo5VPUNagZK/OA)–

Talks with Armenia constructive – Georgian premier

Noyan Tapan news agency
12 Mar 05

Yerevan, 12 March: Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, who
has paid a two-day working visit to Armenia, left for Georgia on 12
March. Asked by journalists at Zvartnots airport, Noghaideli pointed
out that the bilateral negotiations were constructive.

He said that at present, relations between the two countries are at a
level when not only current problems, but also programmes for the next
three-five years can be discussed. The Georgian prime minister thinks
that with this aim, the intergovernmental commission will soon hold a
meeting in Yerevan. Beginning from the next week, the two countries’
delegations will start working meetings, during which they will touch
on the issues that were discussed, including cooperation in the sphere
of energy.

Noghaideli said that this is the first meeting when representatives
of the Armenian Energy Ministry had no complaints about the Georgian
side. “As far as I remember, when I was a deputy and then finance
minister, the Armenian side had complaints during our meetings. We
can discuss not only the problems we had last year, but also the
tasks of further cooperation,” he said.

The Georgian prime minister pointed out that the commodity turnover
between the two countries had doubled over the last year, which,
however, cannot be called satisfactory for the time being. Although
the issue of railway tariffs was not discussed these days, the current
tariffs are nevertheless quite normal for the commodity turnover,
the prime minister thinks.

Noghaideli also assured the journalists that nothing is threatening
Armenian cultural-historical monuments in Georgia.

It must be noted that Noghaideli visited the Holy See of Echmiadzin
and met Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II before his departure.

Karabakh forces ready to repel Azeri attacks -NKR Defence Minister Seyran Oganyan

Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
12 Mar 05

Text of Armen Akopyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkhar on
12 March headlined “The enemy’s provocations have been prevented and
they are being duly repelled”

Even though the calm on the border is always relative, in recent days
the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly broken this seeming calm.

Nagornyy Karabakh Defence Minister Seyran Oganyan comments on the
situation on the border.

This week alone, the Azerbaijani armed forces have seriously violated
the cease-fire regime two or three times, resorting to sabotage and
similar acts near the defence lines of the Artsakh [Karabakh] armed
forces.

[Ayots Ashkhar correspondent] How would you explain the enemy’s
recent activity on the contact and demarcation lines? Do these steps
of the Azerbaijani side pursue only tactical goals or are we dealing
with well-prepared provocations?

[Seyran Oganyan] The recent events on the contact line give rise to
concern, especially as they are regular and are often accompanied
with gunfire. I do not think that these steps by the Azerbaijani side
pursue tactical goals. These are rather provocative acts and the
units of our defence army have taken and will continue to take
relevant steps to prevent them.

[Correspondent] How possible do you think is the supposition that the
Azerbaijani side resorts to such provocations only to find out the
combat readiness of the Armenian armed forces in order to launch more
large-scale attacks? If yes, what is your assessment of the situation
in this context?

[Oganyan] If we suppose that the Azerbaijani side resorts to such
provocations only to find out the combat readiness of the Armenian
armed forces, the recent events on the border, which were not in
favour of the enemy, open great opportunities to draw relevant
conclusions. In this aspect, the idea of launching large-scale
attacks in the future has no prospects. Our armed forces are on alert
and are able not only to repel any large-scale invasion, but also to
launch a proper counter-attack.

[Correspondent] What possible consequences will the enemy’s activity
on the contact line and constant provocations have?

[Oganyan] Additional tension and nothing else. I would describe the
Azerbaijani side’s steps on the front line as fruitless attempts to
achieve something, which will bring them nothing but unjustified
losses. The provision of security on the border is in the focus of
the attention of the NKR army’s command and personnel and it will be
defended under the principle “no falling back.”

[Correspondent] What is your assessment of the information
disseminated by the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry and mass media that
it is the Armenian side that attacks and violates the cease-fire
regime?

[Oganyan] The Azerbaijani propaganda machinery as always is trying to
put Armenia in a bad light in front of the international community by
distorting facts. It is a special policy and in order to combat it,
we must take relevant steps and present the reality.

And the reality today is that apart from violating the cease-fire
regime, Azerbaijan is also constantly taking steps to move its
checkpoints closer to the lines of the NKR defence army. In such a
situation, the armed forces have to take relevant steps to solve
their tactical tasks, which are of great importance to it. They often
have a preventive nature as well. It is a reality that should be
presented to the international community.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 12 2005

TURKEY READY TO ASSUME HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARMENIAN ISSUES,
TURKISH PREMIER STATED

12.03.2005 04:36

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey is ready to assume the historical
responsibility for the Armenian issue, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan stated after a meeting with his political opponent
Deniz Baykal, the Deutsche Welle reported. Turkey will open its
archives for those, who declare the genocide is a historical fact,
the Premier stated. Erdogan called all interested parties to provide
access to archive materials. Both Turkish politicians proposed
forming a joint commission with the participation of Turkish and
Armenian historians for investigating the events of 1915. Official
Ankara had made the same initiative before. What is new about the
latest one is that it is suggested that not only the archives of
Turkey, Armenia and the USSR be opened, but also those of Germany,
France and the UK. The new element also includes Ankara suggesting to
investigate the dark sides of its history under the auspices of an
independent institution, e.g. the UNESCO.

Armenian president, Georgian premier discusses relations

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
12 Mar 05

[Presenter] Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli is in Armenia
for a two-day official visit. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
has stressed that Armenian-Georgian relations have always been within
the framework of issues of mutual interests.

Kocharyan also expressed his satisfaction that the prime ministers
of two countries will continue to head the Armenian-Georgian
intergovernmental commission. The meeting particularly discussed
issues concerning the spheres of energy and cargo transportation,
as well as the organization of cross-border trade.

[Passage omitted: reported details of the meeting with Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Markaryan]

[Video showed the meeting]

Azeri TV reports more Armenian truce violations

ANS TV, Baku
12 Mar 05

[Presenter] The Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijani positions
in Tartar and Agdam Districts today.

[Passage omitted: The same districts were shelled yesterday as well]

[Correspondent] Quoting local residents, our reporter in the ANS
Karabakh bureau reports that the fire from machine guns and assault
rifles intensified between 0600 and 0700 [0200 and 0300 gmt] this
morning. No casualties are reported. From 1345 to 1415 [from 0945
to 1045 gmt] today, Tartar’s village of Qapanli came under fire from
SPK grenade launchers.

[Passage omitted: minor details]